Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-08-26

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more about him to Mr. Carruthers, who
was sitting near me, smoking. and
teasing me to read a Sunday news
paper. which did not think right.
After a time l left him and went to
my room to see how the pendant had
left in my desk would look at my throat
with some flowers l had just pinned
there. But when unlocked my desk
and opened the shabby case in which
Mr.. Rayner had given it to me, the pen
dant was gone. Nothing else in the
desk had been disturbed. made a
careful search without success ] vss
certain had placed i = q :. -
fore retiring.
1t had been stolen-by whom I could
not guess. was frightened by its
mysterious disappearance. At first l
thought | would tell Lady Mills of my
loss. but my courage failed me. /
feared it would lead to scene, that the
servants would be suspected, so I re-
solved to say nothing about it. although
l felt the loss more than l had thought
possible.
So went downstairs to dinner with
a piece of plain black velvet round nv
throat. told Mrs. Cunningham. who
asked why did not wear my pendant,
that had come to the conclusion that
it was too handsome an ornament for
a girl in my position, and heard Mr..
Carruthers say that the same remark
would apply to my eyes.
1t was a fine night, not cold, though
there was light breeze; and after din
ner some of us went into the garden,
and among them, for l was afraid
they would make me play the waltzes
again although it was Sunday.
Mr.. Carruthers came into the garden
and joined me, asking me to walk with
him.
So we went through the gate and by
. narrow foot-path over the grass
down to the river. We stopped when
we got there. by the boat-house, and
Mr.. Carruthers said it would be . love-
ly night for sail.
Yes, if it were not Sunday" said.
timidly.
No other objection occurred 70 me.
He looked down at me, as if hesitating
about something. and then said:
"You are right. You see. respect
your scruples, II l do not share them"
and he took out his watch. at is JUS.
. quarter to twelve. BY the time have
got the boat ready it will be Monday
morning, and then there will be moth
ing against il"
He had one foot in the boat before l
could do more than say:
"But, Mr.. Carruthers, it is SO late.
What would Lady Mills say?"
"Tll make it all right with Lady
Mills; and you are such good little
girl that nobody will think any thing
Of what YOU do"
did not understand this speech so
well then as l did later; but it gave
me sense Of uneasiness, which how
ever was but momentarv. for he talked
and made me laugh until he had the
boat ready, and we heard the big
church-clock strike out twelve.
"Now, unless that clock is fast, our
consciences are free. Give me your
hand. Step carefully. There you are. :"
Twas in the boat. smiling with pleas
ure. yet ready to cry out at every move
ment, for had never been on the wa
ter before.
There isn't much wind; but Think
there is enough to bring us back, soI'll
just skull down the stream. Take the
lines-so-and pull which ever one !
tell you"
disengaged my hands from the
shawl was shrouded in, and. over
whelmed by sense of by new respon-
sibility, did as l was told without a
word. And, as there was not much
steering required, fell to thinking VI
Laurence.
"You are not thinking of me-" said
Mr.. Carruthcrs, quietly.
started, blushed, and pulled the
wrong line at once.
"Why is it," he asked, suddenly,
''that q woman never cares for the man
who loves her best?"
Doesn't she-cvcr?" l asked anx-
iously.
IL am afraid not" said he, in a
very low voice.
but how is she to tell?" asked.
| TREMENDOUSLY.
II think she can tell best by the look
in his eyes when they are bent on her.
nc whispered. with long steady gaze
which disconnected me.
turned away my head.
elf" he went on, still in the same
soft voice quite close to my ear. ''she
raises her lips to his and then tries ia
read in his eyes the emotion he feels
for her"
"But did," said quickly. turning
to him with my heart beating fast al
the remembrance of Laurence nrsi
kiss.
Mr.. Carruthers drew back, s.roKed
his mustache and looked at ,ne IN
quite different manner
You have not lived all your life in
the country. Miss Christie, i think, y
said he, dryly.
And l saw in a moment, BY the
change in his look and voice, what
had done. He had been making love
to me, while was thinking of nothing
but Laurence. l put out my hand to biz
very gently, and said:
Don't be offended with me, Mr.. Car
ruthers. dare say all you say is true
but am SO fond Of him can not hell
thinking he does love me best"
He took my hand and kissed it, anC
then said it was time we were getting
back.
It was just half-past one when W,
landed at the boat-house. Mr. Carruth
ers proposed should slip into the Ii
brary and pretend had fallen asleel
while reading.
"But why should do all that?" sale
l. II haven't done any thing to b'
ashamed of. You said Lady Mill
would not mind"
mo. of course not. my dear child
I'll tell Lady Mills all about it. Dom
trouble your head about that Sh,
won't say word to you. and you neet
not say word to her. But none O
tho other ladies could have done thins
so unusual As you have in your limo
cence-and-and Sir Jonas would scolt
you for your rashness. and say 20,
might have taken cold"
''But it wouldn't look innocent Il
pretend l had never been out at all
Mr.. Carruthers. And l wasn't alone;
was with you-so l was all right.
dare say Lady Mills has not gone t,
bed yet. Ill 60 and see."
And I ran away before he could pre-
vent me, and found Lady Mills lookins
anxious and grave.
my dear child. where have 70,
beena We thought you were lost!'
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